India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has thrown his full support behind the team management’s decision to promote Axar Patel to No. 3 during the second T20I against South Africa in Mullanpur. The move raised eyebrows, especially since Axar had never batted at that position in his previous 51 T20I innings. However, Suryakumar insisted that the call was based on Axar’s growing consistency across formats and the strategic demands of the chase.
Explaining the decision after India’s 51-run defeat, Suryakumar said that Axar had earned the promotion through his recent all-round form. He also credited the South African bowlers for executing their plans perfectly under the lights.
“We backed Axar because he has been batting well across formats. It didn’t click tonight, but that happens. We learn and move forward. Yes, there was some dew, but even then, once Plan A wasn’t working, we should have switched earlier. South Africa showed us how to bowl in the second innings, and we will take those lessons to Dharamsala,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation.
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Axar’s promotion ultimately didn’t pay off, as he fell for a run-a-ball 21. Suryakumar himself struggled, scoring just five off four deliveries as India were dismissed for 162 in 19.1 overs while chasing 214. The defeat allowed South Africa to level the five-match series 1-1.
Suryakumar didn’t shy away from self-criticism either, admitting that he needed to shoulder more responsibility during the chase. He also acknowledged that India was slow to adapt with the ball in the first innings.
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“Abhishek has been brilliant, but we can’t expect him to deliver every time. Shubman fell early, but I should have batted deeper and controlled the chase. Maybe I should have batted after winning the toss, but that’s okay—we move on. We were late to understand the right lengths on this wicket, and that cost us,” he added.
India will now look to regain momentum in the third T20I at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on December 14.
